124
What thing would be nice to have but can't have it because we can't trust people? (piefed.world)
submitted 2 months ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
150 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 117 points 2 months ago (21 children)

Community sheds.

Imagine a house-sized (or larger) lot in the neighborhood thats just a shed. You go in, theres a few lawnmowers, a chainsaw or two, all kinds of power tools and hand tools, hoses, a couple of printers. Whatever you might imagine in a hardware store that isn't bought and immediately consumed, it's in there, because some neighbor saw the need once, bought it, and stored it. One day you, say, realize you need a voltage tester, and you don't own one, so you go to the community shed, realize one isn't in there, buy one, use it, and then put it away in the community shed. No one else in the entire neighborhood needs to buy one, they'll find it in the shed.

So handy, but it relies on trusting your neighbors. Trusting them to return things, but more than that, trusting them to bother to contribute, help to keep it organized, and to replace things when they break.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 21 child comments
    •
  • [–] 17 points 2 months ago (5 children)

    I mean...

    We have governments for a reason, there's nothing stopping a local government from making a "tool library" where someone who needs a tool can go, get documentation or maybe even training, and check the tool out.

    Since it would be an actual government program, we could even have a city worker staffing it.

    Like, there's actual good things we can do with the money we seize from billionaires via taxes.

    However you start talking gas powered tools like chainsaws and mowers, and there's going to need to be a maintenance budget.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 5 child comments
    •
  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago* (4 children)

    There are many maintenance items on electric tools, too. Chainsaws need oil and sharpening, weed whackers need string. All tools need minimal cleaning, etc. Sure, it can be way less than an ICE tool, but it exists.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (3 children)

    There's a lot more issues with an unsupervised and unlocked shed of chainsaws...

    I stated the most obvious one, you pointed out a less obvious one exists.

    We could keep going forever, listing out every single issue and why this is a bad idea...

    But no one will read them, so it's best to state one clear reason that everyone can understand

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago* (2 children)

    Naww I actually fully agree with the idea that it could (and should) work in an ideal world. Just that such a plan would still definitely come with some intrinsic cost/effort, even beyond keeping the shed a viable shed.

    Also, people DO have access to chainsaws, so if you're afraid of loons getting chainsaws... you might just be a bigger coward than you are smart...

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 0 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    Also, people DO have access to chainsaws, so if you’re afraid of loons getting chainsaws… you might just be a bigger coward than you are smart…

    Not really sure what you're talking about honest, but you don't seem like you'd be receptive to anymore help

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 10 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    my city has bike repair stations that are like this.

    after a few months, all the tools are stolen or destroyed. now there are a ton of shitty bike repair stations around the city that are all broken.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 8 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    What we need is to replace the tools, fix up the stations, add a friendly sign that it’s a community space, and station a sniper on a nearby rooftop.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago

    I've read that the same thing happens to the little "library" stands, but if the person who sets them up doesn't give up, after a short time people stop stealing from them and vandalizing them and they just start using them as libraries.

    I think the theory was that after a relatively short amount of time, the assholes get bored and go screw with something else.

    I don't know how well that would work with tools, and it definitely needs to have a strong-willed person stocking it.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 5 points 2 months ago

    Idk if it's so simple. I'm a part of some community efforts along those lines and inventory management still needs done. Not to say "your dream is impossible", quite the contrary. Recognize the radical template that the library gives us!

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 3 points 2 months ago*

    We couldn't have such a thing here because the surrounding cities round up and dump all their crackheads and methheads here, meaning nothing that isn't nailed down can sit outdoors without being stolen within the hour. They're a plague here and the police are completely and utterly useless.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 3 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    I would want a community printer!

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •